Multigraph rail-soldering machine



Feb. 2 1926.

A. P. JOHNSTON vMuLTIGRAPx-I RAIL soLDERING MACHINE Filed August ll.1922 2 Sheets-Sheei l Feb. 2 1926.

A. P. JOHNSTON MULTIGRAPH RAIL SOLDERING MACHINE Filed August 11, 192242 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

ALFRED PETER JOHNSTON, OF "WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

MULTIGRAPH RAIL-SOLDERING MACHINE.

Application filed August 11, 1922. Serial No. 581,201.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED PETER JOHN- s'roN, of the city of Winnipeg,in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Multigraph Rail-Soldering Machines, of which thefollowing is the specification.

The invention relates to improvements in multigraph rail solderingmachines and an object of the invention is to provide a machine forelectrically soldering the rails to the electrotype or stereotype platesand to construct the machine so that the work can be done quickly andaccurately.

A further object of the invention is to construct the machine so that itcan be readily manipulated to electrically solder any number of properlyspaced rails to the plates, whether the plates be large or small, and toprovide the machine with setting and locking means which will positivelyinsure of the rails being accurately set in respect to the plate and inrespect one to the other and to conform with the channels or slots ofthe multigraph cylinder on which the plates are applied during theprinting operation.

With the above more important objects in view the invention consistsessentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinaftermore particularly described and later pointed out in the appendedclaims7 reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally and centrally throughthe machine, certain parts being shown in side elevation.

Fig` 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the machine at 3-3Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed horizontal sectional view at 1l-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed horizontal sectional view at 5-5 Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the rails.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the constructionillustrated in Fig. 3.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several figures.

I may initially explain that electrotype or stereotype plates are at thepresent time provided with attaching rails 'for connecting the said.plates to the cylinder or drum of the multigraph machine with which theplates are used in printing. At the present time7 far as I am aware, therails are either cust on vthe plates or soldered to them by hand work.Both these operations are expensive and the latter one takesconsiderable time and care. The machine which I have devised solders therails accurately to the plates electrically and is now described indetail.

A metallic drum or shell 1 is provided, the drum having the ends openand the top partially cut away to allow of the manipulation of theoperation parts. The drum is suitably carried by end pieces 2 and 3 inthe form of supporting cradles. To the cradles I secure elevatedopposing horizontally disposed end beams l and 5 and these beams areprovided centrally and on the underside with aligned bearings 6 and 7which support rotatably the ends of a lengthwise extending shaft 8. Theshaft carries a clamp 9 which is supported by two end arms 10 and 11 anda central arm 12 extending from the shaft. rIhe central arm 12 passesslidably through the shaft whilst the end arms 1() and 11 are mountedfor sliding movement, but in a peculiar manner now described:

The upper end of each arm is received slidably within a tube 18 and thetube passes slidably through the shaft 8 and has its upper endterminating in each instance in a closed head which is provided with anei:- tending riveted pin 141 which fastens a handle 15 to the head. Aswill be observed in Fig. 2 the handle connects the tubes of the end armstogether. A coiled spring 16 envelops each tube and has the ends thereofengaging with the shaft 8 and handle 15, the springs normally acting tohold the tubes in an upper non-working position. 'ihe upper ends of thearms 10 and 11 are each provided with cross pins 1 7 which operatewithin slots 18 provided in the sides of the tubes. A. coiled spring 19is interposed between the head of each tube and the upper end of thearm, such latter springs normally exerting a downward pressure upon thearms.

According to the above arrangement it will be apparent that when onepresses downwardly on the handle he will force both the arms 10 and 11downwardly and so canse the clamp to pass toward the inner face of thedrum, it being here understood that the longitudinal axes of the shaftand drum coincide.

In order to permit of the locking of the @amp in a depressed or downposition I Gil hare prfT ed the sides ot each tube 13 ratchet teeth Q()which are engaged a spring;` pressed dogg 2l carried by the The clainppresents a stationary jaw 22 and a pivoted jaw 23 hinged to theLstationary jaw throughout its length at Q4. The lower ends ot the jawsare designed such that they will receive, grip and hold the Tehaped rail25 as used with electrotype or stereotype plates. The manner in whichthe rail is caught is best shown in Figures l and il and it Will'here beobserved thfit the niaivx web of the rail is exposed t0- Wards the drum.

Suitable means are provided tor insuring' oit the ellective gripping;`ot the rail, such in the present instance being' by means ot eccentriccams 26 located behind upstanding` arms 27 carried by the pivoted ian"and operated by levers 28. Gbviously7 in the turning of the levers inthe proper direction the cams will cause the pivoted jaw to tightly gripthe inserted rail head.

The inner tace of the drum l. is provided With a plurality ott' suital;y spaced T-shaped slots 29 passing circumierentially ot the drum andadapted to receive slidably more or less spool-shaped slides 30, theslides being` provided With screiv threaded openings receiving;adjusting pins 3l. The adjusting; pins are fitted with finger pieces 39,and they carry substantially rectangular clamping plates 38. Any numberot these slides can be used7 their purpose being;l to .tirnily tastenwithin the drinn the electrotype or stereotype plate 3d to Which the r.i s are to be soldered. This plate 3 is ot the ordinary torni and itscurvature is such that it .vill tit the tace ot the cylinder ot themulti- ,ejraph machine on which it is to he used.

The drum l which I provide is cur-ved to tit the convex side of theplate 34C. This plate may be large or small and after it is pnti-n thedrum it is securely fastened thereto by utilizing; the slides. Thetastaining is 33 so that they'ivill overhang the edges of theelectrotype or stereotype plate and then l teninn' up the screws 3l bymanipulati u, the ling.; pieces until the clampingplates 33 tightlyclamp the electrot. pe or stereotype plate in place;

The arrangement ot the clanip and parts associated therewith. is suchthat one can swine` the clanip up so that it is exposed above the drinn,then put the rail in place between the jaws and fasten it andsubsequently swing the clamping` plate down into the drum into theposition as shown in Fig'. il and tina-ily depress the clamp bymanipulatinel the handle l5 to brine' the web ot the rail in contactwith the inner iace oi" he electrotype or stereotype plate. Tn thisrunueeion it pointed out that when the .uil his been hrm "it intocontact With the actually made by turning the plates latter plate it islocked in such position by the dogs and at this time the springs l) areexerting; a downward pressure ou the arms l0 and ll to maintain the railtifrlitly pressed against the plate.

The cylinders of multigraph machines are provided with slots to receivethe rails oi" the plates and as these slots are a tired or predetermineddistance apart it is necessary that the rails be soldered accurately onthe plates in my machine a correspond ing pre-selected distance apart asotherwise they would not enter the slots ot thcpinulti- `graph machinecylinder. To insure ot this I have tornied spaced notches in the endsoi" the drum l, these notches being spaced apart a distance egual to thedistance between the slots or `Lgrooves iu the cylinder ogf theniultiggraph machine.

The stationary jaw of the clamp 9 is provided at the ends With linegers3G and 37 which ar adapted. when the clamp is pressed toward the drum,to enter the notches 35. This latter arrangement insures ct the properspacing' of the rails on the tace et the plate 34.

The stationary jaw of the clamp 9 is proitted vfith an ele ricalheating;- elcment 38 oit any approved type and lead Wires. 39 and et()connect with the ends ot the element, the Wires passing through theshaft 8 and through suitable passau/es provided in the l0 and ll. said pssages being con- ...ated to permit of the sliding); movement of thearms Without binding' due to the Wires. The Wires 30 and tO areelectrically connected to suitably insulated rings il and lf2 carried bythe shaft and brushes l-l and del: Contact with the rings, the brushesbeine in circuit with suitable source oi electroinotive 'torce throughthe teed Wires 45 and 46.

The electrical heating' element is located such that it is very close tothe clamped rail. With the result that when the element heats the railWill be heated to a sufficient temperature to permit ot the electricalsolderingof the rail to the clectrotype or stereotype. plate. ln actualyf actice one will turn the clamping` bar to the top and initially heatit in this position. He Will then apply a suitable tina: and the solderto the eX- poscd edge ot the rail web. The handle l5 will then bemanipulated to bring); the clamp and rail caught thereby into a positionover the electrotype or stereotype plate 'fastened in the drum. Thehandle l5 Will then be pressed down to bring` the rail tight con-- tactwith the plate and the final solderingr will then be etliected. A* thistime the tingers 3S and 87 are in the notches 35.

Tn Figures l and 5l l have shown one rail soldered in place und a secondrail about ready to be attached. t'ter the first rail is soldered theoperation is duplicated for the second rail or any other numberrequired, depending on the size of the plate, and one is at all timespositive that the rails are accurately aligned and spaced as the clampholds the rails accurately longitudinally ot' the drum and the vfingers,co-acting with the notches 35, space the rails to conform to the groovesor slot-s ot' the cylinder ot the multigraph machine.

Whilst I have entered into a detailed de scription of the Various partsI wish it to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited to theprecise construction therein shown as obviously the various parts couldbe materially structurally modified7 Without departing from the spiritot the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

TWhat I claim as my invention is:

l. In a multigraph rail solderingmachine, the combination With anelectrotype or stereotype plate and a rail, of a suitably mountedpartial drum adapted to receive the plate, means for releasablyfastening the plate to the drum, a. rotatably mounted shaft passingaxially through the drunL a clamp carried by the shaft and supportingthe rail, said clamp being movable towards and away from the plate andmeans tor heating the rail carried by the clamp.

2. In a mutigraph rail soldering machine, the combination With anelectrotype or stereotype plate and a rail, of a suitably mountedpartial drum adapted to receive the plate, means tor releasably'fastening the plate to the drum, a rotatably mounted shaft passingaxially through the drum, a clamp carried by the shaft and supportingthe rail, said clamp being movable towards and away from the plate.,means for heating the rail carried by the clamp and means for positivelysetting the clamp in respect to the plate in the engaged position ot therail with the plate.

3. In a multigraph rail soldering machine, t-he combination with anelectrotype or stereotype plate and a rail, ot a partial suitablymounted stationary drum receiving and supporting the plate, releasablemeans tor attaching the plate to the inner 'tace of the drum, a suitablymounted rotatable shaft passing axially through the drum, a clampcarrying the rail and operating` Within the drum and carried by theshaft`r said clamp turning with the shaft and being mounted tor radialmovement, means associated with the clamp tor heating the rail carriedthereby and means tor locking the clamp in preselected positions inrespect to the drum.

4. In a multigraph rail soldering machine, the combination with anelcctrotype or stereotype plate and a rail, o' a partia suitably mountedstationary drum receivingl and supporting the plate, releasable meansfor attaching` the plate to the inner` :tace ot the drum, a suitablymounted rotatable sha'tt passing axially through the drum, a clampcarrying the rail and operating Within thc drum and carried by the shatt, said clamp turning with the shaft and being mounted for radialmovement, means associated with the clamp tor heating the rail carri Ytheir by, means normally maintaining the clamp in a retracted positionaway from the plate, releasable means for locking the clamp in aldepressed position with the rail contacting with the plate and means torautomatically locking the clamp in a preselected position in respect tothe drum during the depression oi the clamp.

Signed at Winnipeg, this 26th day ot July, 1922.

ALFRED PETER JOHNSTON.

